The Plain Folk and Technology

Kevin Kelly has blogged about the Amish and their adaptation of technology to fit the needs of their community.

I think this article does a good job of explaining the Amish attitude toward technology to "the English."  A couple of the Commenters took offense at the the blogger's use of Geek to describe the Amish first adopters.  I think it is an acceptable term and in no way diminishing of the Amish.

The blogger, Mr Kelly did lay out what he thought were a set of rules to describe how the Amish approach new technology:

1. They are selective.  They know how to say "no" and are not afraid to refuse new things. They ban more than they adopt.
2. They evaluate new things by experience instead of by theory.  They let the early adopters get their jollies by pioneering new stuff under watchful eyes.
3. They have criteria by which to select choices:  technologies must enhance family and community and distance themselves from the outside world.
4. The choices are not individual, but communal.  The community shapes and enforces technological direction.

I don't see the Amish approach being useful to the larger "English" community in the United States, but it is an interesting one and one that could be of value to small communities with a religious or green motivation.

Regards  --  Cliff